Brilliant tennis from Djokovic today, particularly in that final set. Nadal didn't feel sufficiently confident to match his aggression, and was nowhere near in terms of execution - the winners count stands at 46-15. Whether or not this means anything remains to be seen - Nadal will be better for having played the game, and Djokovic won't be able to use the higher bounce in Paris, where the courts play lower. Can Roland Garros start now, please?

Third set: Djokovic 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 Nadal* (*denotes server) A bad bounce, and Nadal goes long, then again without the excuse. But a big serve crowds his man into doing the same, before a frankly stupid! astounding! backhand return crosscourt sets up two match points. The first is saved with a slower serve, but the second is not. Djokovic takes control of the rally with another backhand crosscourt, and though Nadal struggles back into the rally, it's only a stay of education - within seconds, he's etching a heart into the dust.

Third set: *Djokovic 4-6, 6-3, 5-3 Nadal (*denotes server) There's a slightly forlorn look about Nadal now, two groundstrokes absolutely smelted past him. Then, Djokovic forces him wide to the back hand and cleans up to the forehand, before an ace has Nadal serving to stay in the match. What a ridiculous game that very was!

Third set: Djokovic 4-6, 6-3, 4-3 Nadal* (*denotes server) What a final this is now, Djokovic immediately snatching back momentum by forcing Nadal onto the backhand. And, next point, a forehand error gives him a half-chance - turned into a potential matchwinner when repeated clumps, again to the backhand, force a response that clips the tape and shoots out. Nadal saves the first break point, but the relentless of pressure elicits a misguided forehand, and the advantage ids restored.

Third set: *Djokovic 4-6, 6-3, 3-3 Nadal (*denotes server) At 15-all, a ridiculous point, Nadal the aggressor, winging forehands to Djokovic's backhand corner, before the opportunity to play a drop presents itself. And then, when Nadal drops short, Djokovic does insufficient with his approach, and can only net the attempted and eventuating pass. And one break point is all is takes, a clever drive down the line forcing Djokovic to jab, the ball popping up to be smashed at his tootsies from close range.

Third set: Djokovic 4-6, 6-3, 3-2 Nadal* (*denotes server) Could momentum have shifted? Nadal steps away on the baseline, and contrives a top-spin forehand that clips the line about half-court. But then he outthinks himself replying to a drop-shot, making to the forehand side, but what if sees me doing that, but what if he sees me pretending to go the other way and knows I'm just pretending, but what if knows I'm just pretending and pretending to be pretending, when I'm not. So Djokovic wins that point after Nadal's slice to the backhand hits the net, and ought to win the next too, but is unable to return at the net, and Nadal then seizes the game with a signature whip.

Third set: *Djokovic 4-6, 6-3, 3-1 Nadal (*denotes server) This is brilliantly, beautifully, brutally dismissive from Djokovic - he goes to 30-0 with a backhand swiped crosscourt. But there follows the kind of forehand return that gives small children nightmares, whip-clubbed down the lane with intense prejudice. Still, though, Djokovic closes out the game with ease.

Third set: Djokovic 4-6, 6-3, 2-1 Nadal* (*denotes server) Djokovic is not only improved at the net, but he's also outhitting Nadal from the back. Nadal can only really go for his shots earlier, and the lines more intently, because otherwise, this is over. And Djokovic quickly reaches 30, the second with a forehand return that looked brilliant - on second viewing, it might have skipped off the racket a little - but the fluke was earned through commitment to attack. Nadal, though, whips a forehand to the deuce corner and cements the point with a drop-shot, before forcing Djokovic to go long and then reaching 40-30. Djokovic, though flings his entire corporeal into a forehand that near enough wins the point, and then forces Nadal to save a break point. But, game point up, Nadal misses an easy forehand, the kind of thing that the cosmos was once organised to prevent, and a long rally doth ensue - ended by a signature Nadal forehand! That's more like it! But then a second serve disappears across him with added disdain, and when he drops short, Djokovic clambers all over him to earn another shot at the break - which he wastes. An outrageous exchange follows, looping forehands and all of that, and Nadal misses the length - only for it to become apparent that Djokovic had already gone long. This time, he serves out.

Third set: *Djokovic 4-6, 6-3, 2-0 Nadal (*denotes server) Can Nadal compete with Djokovic's consistency and viciousness? Not at the moment, he garrycooked; this is one-way traffic on a two-way street. Service held to love.

Third set: Djokovic 4-6, 6-3, 1-0 Nadal* (*denotes server) Djokovic vaults into the set with a succession of punishing forehands to Nadal's backhand corner, and the pressure eventually tells. But Nadal retaliates, dominating the next rally won with a drop-shot - but only just. Djokovic, though, is undeterred, claiming the next two points - the second with a backhand smoked, roasted and fried down the line - and the break is his when Nadal is outlasted from the baseline. Yes! Really!

Second set: *Djokovic 4-6, 6-3 Nadal (*denotes server) Djokovic is playing by far the better tennis here, and another forehand winner gives him 15 - but an error on the backhand, with Nadal nowhere, if that's possible, makes it 15-15. Then, another oversight presents the advantage, retrieved by a further surprise net appearance, both wrong-footing and handing his man. Two monster serves seal the set, and we shall be treated to a third - that's brilliant from Djokovic.

Second set: Djokovic 4-6, 5-3 Nadal* (*denotes server) "In a stadium built for a dictator, Mussolini, it is Novak who's doing the dictating." Yes, someone said that. A thumping forehand is followed by a drop, and Nadal is in all sorts, a booming crosscourt forehand clawing back a point. Then, a service that gets big on Djokovic levels the game, a zooter down the line gives him fortay-thirtir, and a return drop-shot forced Djokovic to serve for the set.

Second set: Djokovic 4-6, 5-2 Nadal* (*denotes server) Djokovic gets underway with some Boris Becker volleys eventually earning the point. And more controlled violence takes him to game point, a backhand exploded down the line, before the game is necked for 5-2. Nadal is going to need an improvement, because Djokovic's general level is on top here.

Second set: Djokovic 4-6, 4-2 Nadal* (*denotes server) After much head-shaking, Djokovic nails a forehand, before drawing Nadal to the net with a drop-shot, Nadal scooting to the backhand wing and force-scooping a winner crosscourt. And it's soon 30-15, but a misjudgment leads to a top-edge, and then Djokovic climbs all over the next rally, booming groundstrokes presenting the opportunity for a drop. Again, Nadal reaches it - but this time he can only poke into Djokovic's racket, and the break is quickly restored.

Second set: *Djokovic 4-6, 3-2 Nadal (*denotes server) If these slackers can arrange to both find their best at the same time, that'd be appreciated - but Djokovic is too good here, a forehand crosscourt winner backed up with a guest appearance at the net. Suddenly, though, he introduces error, Nadal closing to 40-30, and then, as Djokovic does to take the ball early, on the rise, and from the baseline, a bad bounce has him through the shot too soon, it skews off the top of his frame, and suddenly, he's in trouble. Djokovic then makes a further error, and on break point second serve, escaped children cause consternation and precipitate a pause. A long forehand, and the break is regained. Weird and excellent.

Second set: Djokovic 4-6, 3-1 Nadal* (*denotes server): Better from Nadal, Djokovic unable to uncork credulity-defying shots to order, but from thirtir-love, a forehand goes wide, and then Djokovic absolutely basses a forehand - only for Nadal to retaliate, clinching the game with ball assault illegal in some countries.

Second set: Djokovic 4-6, 3-0 Nadal* (*denotes server): Djokovic has started this set in soul curdling fashion, brutally ending an even rally with a dismissive forehand that Nadal did not see coming. Within seconds, it's 40-0, and the game is clinched with a chopped drop. Welcome to The Zone, population you.

Second set: *Djokovic 4-6, 2-0 Nadal (*denotes server): Brilliant start from Djokovic, who gets from love-15 to love-thirtir with a thumping overhand return, the sort of thing you might see in a boxing ring, backed up with a clouted backhand. But Nadal spanks a forehand winner shallow, wide and on the line, before a similar shot to the other side levels the game - the wind seemed to deaden the bounce. Djokovic is all over the next point, but, making to go down the line with a backhand and instead flicking crosscourt - and what a shot! to win the breakm chasing across to the forehand corner and whipping an improbable winner back the other way.

First set: Djokovic 4-6 Nadal* (*denotes server) A drop shot backed up by a lob-volley gets Djokovic the first point. But Nadal levels following the provocation of a time violation, and a murderous forehand down the line - the kind he's been missing until now - takes him within two points of the set. A service down the line, into the deuce court, is too much for Djokovic, and another winner concludes the transaction.

Weird set, that - not as brilliant as we have come and have every right to demand and insist upon. Rubbish. Djokovic improved as matters progressed, but the way that Nadal closed things out looked ominous.

First set: Djokovic 3-5 Nadal* (*denotes server) The crechczing is up to full power now, and so is Djokovic, racing to 30-love with a winner and then a lovely return that got under Nadal's racket and forced him to hit long. Then, a deep backhand finds Nadal's forehand, and he hits into the net - words you'd supposed any intelligent computer would auto correct. But the first break point is saved with a wrong-footing pound, the second and third when inside-out forehands are overhit, and the purple patch is well and truly over when two more errors hand Nadal the game.

First set: *Djokovic 3-4 Nadal (*denotes server) After Nadal goes ahead in the game, Djokovic larrups a dismissive forehand, then another, low and hard, forces another error. He seems comfortable now, finishing the game with an ace - and after a sketchy opening, things are warming.

First set: Djokovic 2-4 Nadal* (*denotes server) Djokovic has been doing lots of box-looking, but needs to find a more obvious manner of righting himself - the unforced errors are giving him no chance of competing here. If he's to lose, he'll want to force Nadal to win, rather than simply donate to the cause. And Nadal's in charitable mood, though he doesn't really like to talk about his charity work, allowing love-30 with a forehand error precipitated by a net cord, and then a double fault, followed by a further net-cord. Djokovic then wastes the first break point with a drop shot - a tactical call to keep Nadal thinking - and the second is made.

First set: *Djokovic 1-4 Nadal (*denotes server) Djokovic scurries to the net, slicing a backhand volley crosscourt when there was no need - Nadal's groundstroke was going wide. And it costs him the point, after which he loses another, and though he pulls back to 15, Nadal looks far more comfortable, earning another break point when the wind catches a short punch, pulling it away from the advancing Djokovic just enough to cost him the point. Seconds later, the game is done.

First set: Djokovic 1-3 Nadal* (*denotes server) Points were fairly short in the first two games, but the S&M is now absolutely underway. And just for the moment, it's Nadal dictating them, holding easily to 15.

First set: *Djokovic 1-2 Nadal (*denotes server) Djokovic hops into a sort of chop for no reason whatsoever, and Nadal quickly responds, zoning a backhand low over the net crosscourt. And very quickly, Djokovic fails with two more miserable backhands, giving Nadal three break points. A vicious forehand from centre to the deuce court saves one, and there follows the best point so far - a Nadal lob wins the advantage, as he can only flip it back - but he stays in the rally, and another winner saves another. Oh, they're really into this now, what a ridiculous pair of ridiculous individuals they really are - and Nadal takes control of the point, pinning Djokovic in the forehand corner and punishing him to seize the advantage with an angled volley at the net.

First set: Djokovic 1-1 Nadal* (*denotes server)Aside from snooker and darts, is tennis the sport whose players have achieved the highest mastery? Nadal wins the first point of the game, then takes the second when the ball holds up in the wind on Djokovic's return. And there's no doubt about the third, a forehand panelled down the line in response to Djokovic's crosscourt backhand - an ominous sign. But concentration, and two points are lost, then a third, after a forehand holds up in the wind and plummets just over the net. Potentially awkward, but Nadal makes short work of the next two points to level things.

First set: *Djokovic 1-0 Nadal (*denotes server) Djokovic misses with his first serve, after which some muscular forehands force him into an error - but he comes straight back with an inside-out forehand. Nadal, though, is already ensconced in the groove, given far too long to pick a forehand and smashing the forlorn attempt at a return, before Djokovic serves out. Both men are looking good, looking good, to quote a jungle DJ of the mid-90s, whose name escapes me.

THIS IS IMPORTANT. We can deduce this on account of the Star Wars music what's playing - lucky someone was possessed of such foresight. "They are two stars and they are about to go to war", elucidates Marcus Buckland.

Victor Chandler is card, isn't he? Especially since changing his name to Bet Victor. Doubt Mrs Victor took kindly to that, even if it did make him exponentially cooler in the internet age and more likely to get his name above the door in the Rovers.

The post-Crucible, pre-Roland Garros, where's the top class sport gone from my telly when I'm meant to be working, pathetic, indignation is almost over. Just one more week of acrylic afternoons to endure. We can get through this.

Not really, only joking, and all of that. This final is important, not simply on account of its two protagonists - amongst the finest athletes, sportsmen and competitors of all-time - but because, for the first time in some time, we have reason to disbelieve.

Nadal, once undefeated on clay for 81 matches, a run that spanned more than two years, is now vulnerable. This season, both David Ferrer and Nicolas Almagro have beaten him on his favourite surface, with Kei Nishikori set to until injury intervened. And this week sets have been ceded to Gilles Simon, Mikhail Youzhny and Andy Murray - convincingly in the third instance. He's still the best, but no longer is he impregnable.

Djokovic, meanwhile, has not won a slam since the start of 2013, and been taxed in Rome by Philipp Kohlscreiber, Ferrer, and Milos Raonic. All three are excellent players, such that viewed in isolation, none would be remarkable - but together, might be the start of a pattern. The next generation, though not yet ready for revolution, are certainly forming a vanguard.

We might not get too many more altercations of this ilk and intensity, so guzzle them while you can.